George Russell Goes Fastest at Monza! Italian GP 2026 - FP2 Reaction
George Russell Goes Fastest
The headline from FP2 belongs to George Russell. Mercedes had already shown promising pace during FP1, when Russell finished third behind the two Ferraris. This time, Russell went to the top. It's an important result for Mercedes and shows that Ferrari might not have everything their own way at their home Grand Prix. Russell has put himself firmly into the conversation heading towards qualifying. Could he be a genuine contender for pole position? Right now, it certainly looks possible.
Charles Leclerc Keeps Ferrari in the Fight
Ferrari might not have finished FP2 on top, but there's still plenty for the Tifosi to be excited about. After going fastest in FP1, Charles Leclerc finished second in FP2, just over a tenth behind Russell. That means Leclerc has been at the sharp end of the timing screens throughout Friday and that's important. FP1 pace can sometimes be misleading, but Leclerc remaining competitive across both sessions suggests Ferrari genuinely have a quick car around Monza. Now the big question is whether Leclerc can turn that Friday pace into a pole position.
Kimi Antonelli Takes Third
Kimi Antonelli finished third, giving Mercedes two cars inside the top three. It's another strong performance for the championship leader at his home Grand Prix. Antonelli's weekend is complicated by his power-unit penalty, meaning Mercedes need to think about much more than just qualifying. Race pace and overtaking ability will be incredibly important. Fortunately for Antonelli, Monza's long straights and heavy braking zones should provide opportunities to fight through the field and based on the pace Mercedes showed in FP2, he could have the car underneath him to do exactly that.
What About Lewis Hamilton?
Lewis Hamilton had started his Italian Grand Prix weekend brilliantly by finishing second in FP1 and helping Ferrari secure a one-two. FP2 wasn't quite as eye-catching for Hamilton, but Friday practice isn't only about setting the fastest possible lap. Ferrari will have spent time working on tyres, fuel loads and long-run performance ahead of the Grand Prix.The positive news is that Leclerc remained right at the front, proving there is plenty of speed in the Ferrari. Hamilton will now be looking to extract that same performance when it matters. A strong result for Hamilton in Ferrari colours at Monza would certainly be special.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull Have Work to Do
It wasn't the easiest session for Max Verstappen, who finished ninth. After not taking part in FP1, Verstappen needed FP2 to get comfortable with his Red Bull around Monza. Instead, the team appear to have some work to do. Monza presents teams with a difficult setup challenge. They want as little drag as possible for the enormous straights, but drivers still need enough downforce to feel confident through the corners and under heavy braking. Red Bull haven't quite found the sweet spot yet but we've learned one thing over the years: Never count Max Verstappen out after Friday practice.
Can McLaren Join the Battle?
McLaren are another team worth watching closely. Lando Norris arrives at Monza after winning the previous two Grands Prix and has plenty of momentum behind him. Friday hasn't necessarily put McLaren at the very top of the timing screens, but that doesn't mean they won't be involved when qualifying arrives. We've seen McLaren find performance as race weekends develop. If Norris can get himself near the front of the grid, he could have another opportunity to fight for victory. Could he make it three Grand Prix wins in a row?
Difficult FP2 for Bortoleto
It was a frustrating session for Gabriel Bortoleto. The Audi driver suffered a loss of power during FP2, costing him valuable track time. He eventually finished 15th. Losing running on Friday is never ideal, particularly at a circuit like Monza where teams need to understand their low-downforce setup and tyre performance. Audi will be hoping the issue can be resolved before the next session.
The Monza Setup Challenge
One of the fascinating parts of the Italian Grand Prix is the unique challenge Monza gives Formula 1 teams. This is the Temple of Speed. Teams want maximum straight-line performance, which means running extremely low levels of downforce but there's a trade-off. Remove too much downforce and the car can become difficult to control through the corners. Drivers also need confidence when braking from incredibly high speeds into the chicanes. Finding the perfect balance could make the difference between fighting for pole and starting several positions further back.
On The Pit Wall Verdict
After two practice sessions, we've got a fascinating battle developing between Ferrari and Mercedes. Ferrari dominated FP1 with Leclerc ahead of Hamilton. Then Mercedes responded in FP2, with Russell going fastest and Antonelli taking third. Leclerc remaining second shows Ferrari are still very much in the fight. McLaren could also have more performance to show, while Red Bull need to find something if Verstappen is going to challenge at the front. Right now, picking a favourite for pole position isn't easy and that's exactly what we want heading into qualifying.
🏆 Who Takes Pole at Monza?
Could George Russell continue Mercedes' strong form and take pole?
Can Charles Leclerc deliver a special lap in front of the Tifosi?
Could Lewis Hamilton produce a magical moment at Ferrari's home race?
Will Lando Norris put McLaren back at the front?
Or will Max Verstappen and Red Bull find the performance they're currently missing?
There's still plenty to come from Monza.
💬 Have Your Say
Who impressed you most during FP2?
And most importantly:
Who do you think will take pole position for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix?
Let me know your predictions!
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